The Wandle Trail - Carshalton Ponds to Beddington Farm!

I purchased a copy of the River Wandle Companion and Wandle Trail Guide by Bob Steel with Derek Coleman a few years ago. I have thumbed through the 235 pages several times since making vague plans to cover the various sections outlined in the book to record the bird life along the way. This morning I put these thoughts into action and walked the trail from Carshalton Ponds to Wilderness Island.  Early afternoon would then be spent further along the Wandle Trail in Beddington Park before meeting up with Peter Alfrey to cover the trail and path that runs south to north from the park through Beddington Farm to Mitcham Golf Course. The path gives good views of the west side of the Farmlands and has three public hides that now overlook the lakes and the wet grassland area. The latter is more like a shallow lagoon at the moment but holds numerous wildfowl and gulls.

The hides are situated off the main path and afford good coverage of the three areas. If you plan on visiting for any length of time bring a fold up seat with you as there are now two levels to view from. I was a keyholder for fifteen years and was getting my ear regularly bent about lack of access to the site but now there is no excuse for not visiting. The only issue now is to correlate sightings information from inside the fence to the hides and vice versa!

The walk from Carshalton Ponds to Wilderness Island produced 26 species including Egyptian Goose. The paths around both were well maintained with plenty of trees and scrub to hold passerines.

In Beddington Park I recorded a gaggle of 23 Egyptian Goose. I am not sure I ever saw that many together during my time spent in Southern Africa. 

A few Black Headed Gulls were stomping for worms on one of the football pitches one bearing a yellow ring with black 2PKV on its leg. Thank you to Paul Roper of North Thames Gull Group for providing the silver ring number and the history for this bird link below.

http://www.ntgg.org.uk/cgi-bin/map.cgi?p=recmap&t=r&r=EZ13495

I recorded 21 species in just over an hour before heading off to The Observatory (Pete’s flat) before completing a tour of the path.

The gulls were given a thorough bashing without any Med, Caspian or Yellow-Legged noted. I was impressed with the views from the hides and the lack of effort required traversing the permissible footpath unlike the bog of the inner sanctum. I recorded 34 species from the hides and along the path.

Not a bad day with some new areas visited narrated in the book (cover above). 

Beddington Farm - Bogdump Strikes Again!

I bit the bullet this morning and teamed up with Peter Alfrey and joined him at Beddington Farm. The process of getting there booking in with all the safety gear and the thick mud had me seriously questioning my sanity! On the plus side there was no land-filling which meant the horrible stench was missing from the air and the sun was beaming in an almost cloudless sky.

Bird of the day a Raven has usurped the pictures and story line about possibly the last Tree Sparrow at the Farm. Pete and I were walking what will be the public footpath on the east side of the North Lake when the crows became very agitated taking to the sky. There was nothing obvious until we both heard the Konking of a Raven. We both looked at each other and without a word both put the cameras to work. 

I did manage a few shots of the only Tree Sparrow of the day, once a species that littered the Farm which is now hanging on by a thread. It is a shame this iconic symbol of Beddington Farmlands has not been better looked after during the transformation of habitat over the last few years!

Other highlights of the morning were a first winter Caspian Gull, a couple of Green Sandpiper and a very grey looking Chiffchaff that even if it did call would not have been heard over the din of the water pumps attempting to keep the water levels down on the proposed wet grassland!

See Peters blog on my blog list for pictures of the Caspian Gull and better Chiffchaff photos!

I had to leave early afternoon to put on another hat which is as black as a Raven, Sutton Utd U19 were victorious 3-1 over local rivals Carshalton Athletic!

By the end of my Beddington session I was actually talking about a return to the site. This is exactly how this place lures you in! I used to blame the key I held but that method of entry has long gone! Uh Oh!

Papercourt Water Meadows - A Day With The Birds Part III

The last stop of the day at Papercourt Water Meadow for me was the highlight of the day and the chance to see owls. I had not realized how flooded the area was with water almost welly high in some places. But the conditions were to work in my favour but were a harsher reality for the pair of Barn Owl who were out well before dusk hunting for a meal.

The flooding had obviously pushed their food source to drier areas which were closer to the entry gate near the road. I was negotiating the swamp when a Barn owl appeared in front of me wow I was not expecting that! It is usually a considerably hike to reach the area where the owls are seen and much closer to dusk.

It turned out there were two birds quartering the area. The first and larger of the two I found resting on a post.

The second bird was further down the track where I joined John who had far superior camera equipment to my 300mm lens. I stood in awe as both birds took turns appearing and dropping down on potential prey. It was just a shame I could not get better shots of these graceful birds.

The site does hold Short Eared Owl during most winters but I stayed as long as the light allowed for a safe return trip without success. No Tawny or Little Owl heard but again I probably left too early!

What an amazing end to the day!

Thundry Meadow - A Day With The Birds Part II

Thundry Meadow is a personal favourite of mine which is maintained by the Surrey Wildlife Trust. I have spent many a day during spring at this site but have not visited during the winter period.  The site is dissected by the River Wey and features include open meadows, woodland and quaking mire which I have learnt is floating vegetation on liquid peat!

The river was fairly high and the surrounding meadows were sodden under foot. I was expecting to flush a Snipe at some point but this did not happen. Several Mandarin were using the river but they turned tail as soon as I came into view. A pair flew onto the river nearby but they did not stick around for long!

A Reed Bunting was seen behind a small patch of reed-bed on a bend in the river. 

Stonechat was also noted in the same area. Both followed me around the bend I guess to ensure I had left the area!

Geese were represented with Canada a couple of fly over Greylag and a pair of Egyptian that were on the far bank on the edge of a field.

There were plenty of Pheasant in the area most of which were males.

Cattle are a part of the gate controlled grazing in the area which keeps the grass low. This individual took to staring me out acting as security guard for the rest of the small herd.

I spent a couple of very quick hours on site before it was time to leave for Papercourt Water Meadows where I hoped to connect with my favourite family of birds…..

Thursley Common - A Day With The Birds Part I

Today was reserved for the birds. I did not rise with them but got myself into gear soon after and headed to my first stop of the day Thursley Common. The common is pretty quiet at this time of year but the weather conditions were ideal with low cloud and no wind therefore bird song could easily be pin-pointed. I didn’t expect too much with regard to movement overhead but kept an eye on the sky just in case.

I travelled light so that I could cover a large area in the few hours I spent listening for groups of birds. I heard several Dartford Warbler’s on the heath which suggests they have made a good recovery in this area over the last few years since the fire.

Stonechat was fewer in number but was as easily located popping up on the tops of clumps of heath. Water levels were generally high particularly on Pudmore Pond. I returned to the car park for lunch and then made my way to my second chosen site Thundry Meadow…..

Banstead Woods - Shiver Me Timbers!

Taking any reasonable photos today was going to be a challenge. The skies around Banstead Woods had a carpet of fog which had seeped into the woodland creating a murky and haunted like atmosphere! The paths were generally devoid of humans giving the woodland birds plenty of opportunities to forage in the leaf litter.

I spent a hour or so creeping around The Slangs watching Bullfinch darting across open areas and pathways. The birds would not stay in view for long seeking cover as soon as I was in their view. This species I have very few photos of and probably only a couple of decent shots over the years. 

The woods were very active with bird song which made locating the various species reasonably easy. During my walk round I decided to go off piste and look for Woodcock in areas where I have seen them before. The prospect of seeing a bird on the ground is almost impossibly. I have only photographed two birds one at Titchwell RSPB and the other at the London Wetland Centre. The likely-hood is that if seen it will be a flushed bird! 

After about twenty minutes I’m creeping around in the undergrowth and old “Timberdick” rattles its wings and flies low over the scrub in front of me and disappears from view just as quickly as it appeared. Therefore why am I startled and the heart rate takes a rapid spike! It was what I was expecting to happen… Wasn’t it?! I regained my composure with a chuckle or two thrown in and continued looking before returning to the paths. 

I recorded 22 woodland species during my visit. I decided against venturing onto Canons Farm happy that I had given Banstead Woods good coverage in the conditions!

Banstead Golf Course - Perstistence Pays Off!

The sun once again had its hat on and it turned out that persistence would pay off at Banstead Golf Course but the Firecrest did not give itself up easily. I have been keeping an eye on this area with several pop in visits either on the way to or on the way home from other sites. 

Photo taken 18th June 2019

Today the course was alive with bird song despite a notable chill in the air. The Firecrest was not in the usual area maybe due to some garden foliage clearance and a small ivy laden tree was now blocking the path parallel to the golf course. The bird remained high and photo opportunities were limited it what turned out to be a game of patience which ended in defeat as the sun went down. I am certain I will get some decent shots before the year is out.

A close relative of this species was not as shy today with a couple of birds flitting around further up the path. I did have to secrete myself out of view to obtain this shot but it was worth the wait. Fortunately the path was not busy with dog walkers this afternoon. I might have given someone a fright!

The tits were well represented with a couple of Coal, several Blue and Great and a party of Long Tailed passing through overhead. The Blackbirds were semi aggressive today chasing each other around. A Mistle Thrush took up sentry duties looking down at me in scorn as I fixed the lens on its gaze.

The path is always worth keeping an eye on both of the common woodpeckers was heard in this area. The Green was very vocal in a garden next to the path. This area always looks good for a Yellow Browed in autumn or a Wood Warbler in summer but timing would have to be perfect to connect with one on passage as the area is relatively small.

Puttenham Common - A Cut Above The Rest!

I ventured out to Canons Farm yesterday afternoon but the weather was so grim I didn’t even take my camera out of its bag. I logged 24 species before turning tail and heading home.

Today was much brighter with sunny spells so I took a jaunt down the A3 to Cut Mill Pond which is situated on Puttenham Common. This site can almost guarantee Goosander in the winter numbers visiting do however vary each year.

It did not take long to spot a pair at the far end of the main lake. Before photographing these birds I checked the smaller pond which is where I have seen small groups in previous winters. A Kingfisher took me by surprise as I was crossing the road between the ponds. It obviously had more pressing matters to deal with as it whizzed past me at a rate of knots!

I could not find any other Goosander but located a small group of Mandarin under the overhanging branches on the far bank. This species originates from the Far East and was introduced and kept in collections but now have a significant breeding population in Britain. (Birds of Surrey by J.Wheatley). They are always a welcome sight for me being part of the duck family, but despite the male’s colourful plumage can be tricky to find as “wild” birds are shy and skulk in overhanging vegetation on ponds and lakes. 

I took a walk around the lake negotiating the flooded footpaths in search of passerines the best of which was a Treecreeper that could be heard long before I found it climbing the trunk of a pine. I had to wait even longer for a photo opportunity.

I stopped off at Crooksbury Common but apart from territorial Robin’s you could hear a mouse f*rt on the windswept heath. I gave this up and made my way back to closer to home where I was unsuccessful in locating Firecrest.

Not a bad day considering the conditions!

London Wetland Centre - Back to Barnes WWT!

Having had a busy week as the man in the middle I decided to catch up with my feathered friends before the weekends fixtures began. The choice of venue was a simple one as I wanted to catch up with a variety of wintering birds.

The London Wetland Centre has hosted a female Goldeneye of late. This was a species I missed during my last visit. It was looking like a repeat was on the cards until someone in the Peacock hide announced the bird was on the Sheltered Lagoon. This incidentally was a first for me at the LWC advancing my life total to 101 species.

The day was slightly chilly with sunny spells developing into an almost cloudless sky as the afternoon wore on. The Bittern took very little time to show themselves basking in the sun on the edges of the reedbeds. The first I saw from the Dulverton hide and later a second bird showed on the far bank to the lagoon near the Wildside Hide. The LWC vast areas of reed-beds hold varying numbers of this species in winter. The can be difficult to see on occasions.

A pair of Pintail was noted resting on the water’s edge to one of the islands. Ducks were well represented with Pochard, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall and Mallard.

A Water Rail made brief appearances along the reeds on the Main Lake in front of the Peacock Hide. Jack and Common Snipe were on the Grazing Marsh. The water levels have subsided but there are still plenty of flooded areas. A Water Pipit was also seen in this area by other visitors.

I bumped into Prof the finder of the Cattle Egret at Beddington Farm and we caught up with news neither of us having visited our old stomping ground for some time. We last met at Tice’s Meadow which had me wondering where we would randomly meet again. A trip to the feeders on the way back to the car produced a Coal Tit (green feeder on right) amongst the regular Tits and passerines.

Forty six species logged without a visit to Wildside with some interesting winter species seen!

London Wetland Centre - A Day with The Ducks!

My first excursion of the year was long overdue so I took the relatively easy thirty minute drive to the London Wetland Centre which is living up to its name due to its managed habitat. I have certainly had good value from my membership which is a must if you plan to visit several times a year.

In 2019 the reserve produced my long awaited Surrey SVC 17 Wryneck and has past records of Stone Curlew which is the next on my Surrey Vice County wish-list! But today was all about the Wildfowl. I have always been particularly partial to ducks which incidentally used to create great amusement amongst the residents of the Para La Tierra house when I lived at Laguna Blanca in Paraguay. But that is a story for another time!

Now back to the ducks and there were plenty of wild birds scattered about the reserve. The grazing marsh was flooded with a bird hiding behind every clump of grass! My bird of the day which was not a duck came from this area. I spied a Water Pipit here early afternoon giving clear views to the folk that queued at my scope to have a look as it traversed the water’s edge.

I was not able to find the female Goldeneye despite a thorough search of the vast body of water. Listening to the talk in the hide the Bittern were not playing ball either for the paying public! Both species had been seen prior to opening.

Despite the lack of a sea duck I was content, no racing around and periods of relative peace and quiet to lose myself in the surroundings. Both the Peregrine performed well scattering the Lapwing on several occasions. I counted over fifty birds.

I can’t recall seeing Shelduck last year in the county but there was three including a pair. 

The usual winter suspects were all present, Pochard, Tufted, Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon and of course the ever present Mallard.

(Staines Moor 22/04/2006 - Bluethroat)

A couple of Cetti’s Warbler was heard in areas of tree/shrub lined reed-beds. I missed the last Bluethroat at the reserve and the Beddington birds were pre key days. It must be only a matter of time before another bird passes through the reserve!

Pintail was the last of the ducks to appear on the Lagoon a pair was feeding in the margins near an island. This was my only phone scope shot of the day!

Not a bad day with 43 species recorded with some common passerines missing. I think I would have added a few more species had I made it over to the Wildside area of the reserve.